In an effort to help service members maintain financial fitness, DoD developed a CD-ROM-based personal financial management training program. DoD began mailing out 4,000 of the six-disk packages in late February to family centers and Army Community Service centers at 375 installations, said Ollie Smith, deputy director of the Office of Family Policy here.

DoD officials are considering distributing the training course to the Coast Guard as well, she said.

Family policy officials are also exploring the possibility of making more packages because of requests for additional copies. "One installation wants to put a copy in every incoming member's welcome packet," Smith said.

The CDs hold a self-paced, interactive course that provides the basic financial tools needed to make sound financial decisions. Smith said the course is geared to appeal to people aged 18 to 25 and features 11 stand-alone training modules: